This mission essential project is for the removal of hazard trees to preserve human health and safety on approximately 4,000 acres of high priority roadways, critical infrastructure and utility…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 3 - Southwestern Region, awarded $13.66 million under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to the New Mexico Energy Minerals & Natural Resources Department on July 22, 2025. The project grant authorizes hazard tree removal work on approximately 4,000 acres across high-priority roadways, critical infrastructure, utility corridors, and the White Mountain Wilderness Area on the Lincoln National Forest near Ruidoso, New Mexico. This mission-critical project addresses disaster recovery needs resulting from the 2024 South Fork and Blue 2 wildfires and is funded through the American Rescue Act (Public Law 118-158). The removal activities target dead and hazardous trees on state and private lands to preserve human health and safety while supporting federal access for wildland firefighting operations and hazardous fuels reduction efforts.

The deliverables encompass hazard tree removal and associated infrastructure improvements on non-federal roads and other facilities necessary for federal wildland firefighting access, wildfire risk mitigation to neighboring communities, public access to safe recreational opportunities, and emergency ingress/egress. These restoration and recovery activities are designed to minimize future fire and flooding events while advancing forest health and community resilience across the designated landscape. The project has an ultimate completion date of June 30, 2030, providing a five-year implementation period aligned with typical Cooperative Forestry Assistance grant structures.

This mission essential project is for the removal of hazard trees to preserve human health and safety on approximately 4,000 acres of high priority roadways, critical infrastructure and utility corridors on state and private lands that were impacted by the south fork and blue 2 wildfire disasters in 2024 and the white mountain wilderness area on the lincoln national forest, near ruidoso in southern new mexico. This work is authorized under the american relief act (public law 118-158) that supports disaster response. This agreement and associated federal funding indirectly leverages state of new mexico funding for disaster recovery and wildfire risk reduction work on federal and state lands. The non-federal roads and other infrastructure work under this agreement are necessary for federal access for wildland firefighting, hazardous fuels reduction (minimizing wildfire risk to neighboring communities), and public access to safe recreational opportunities or ingress/egress for emergency situations, and disaster recovery that minimizes future fire and flooding events. Wildfire response, recreation and safety are priorities of the agency.